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“We are not in active discussions to buy ‘Area 51,’ ” said Katie Martin Kelly, a Paramount spokeswoman.

Similarly, DreamWorks, whose executives brought “Paranormal Activity” to Paramount during their tenure there; Overture Films, which has a modest hit with “Law Abiding Citizen”; and Lionsgate, which has made money on lower-budget movies like the “Saw” series, have not been active bidders for “Area 51,” according to people who are involved with the sale but spoke on condition of anonymity to minimize interference with bidding.

Spokesmen for Warner Brothers, Sony Pictures, Universal Pictures and 20th Century Fox either declined to comment or did not respond to queries.